Metalworking machine



Aug. 3l, 1943. c. GALL ETAL METALwoRKING MACHINE Filed sept. '7, 1959 e sheets-sheet 1 Allg. 31, 1943. Q GALL ET AL 2,328,002

METALwoRxING MACHINE v Filed sepi. 7,*1959 @sheets-sheet 5 Aug. 31, 1943. GALL ET'AL 2,328,002

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed sept. 7, 1939 '6 sheets-'sheet 5 c. GALL ETAL METALWORKING MACHINE Fjiledlsept. '7. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet (5A ATTORNE Patented Aug'. 31, 1943 METALWORKNG MACHINE,

Carl Gall and Bartel J. Di Santo, Woodbridge,

N. J., assig-nors to American Smelting and Refining Company, New York, Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application september 1, 1939, seran No. 293,679

(c1. ca -27) Claims.

It is well known that in the production of billets such as copper and brass billets to be fabricated into seamless tubing by the piercing process, the trade desires billets which have a smooth and bright surface, In order to fulfill such requirements of the trade, machines have been devised which will remove theoutmost layers of the billets, that is to say will scalp the billets.

It is Well known that the trade requirements as to perfection of the surface of the billets are very rigid, and that billets the machined surface of which show only very slight defects under minute inspection, or which may be only slightly bent or distorted, are not acceptable .to the trade.

It is well known also that operating conditions which will produce a perfect scalped brass billet will not fulfill requirements for scalping Ycopper billets,4 as this has been established repeatedly. Thus a machine which produces wholly satisfactory scalped brass billets at`ar satisfactory commercial capacity will not be satisfactory for cop,- per billets at the same operating capacity, it being found in practice that in order to produce a scalped surface on copper billets which is comparable to that on the brass billets, it isnecessary to reduce very materially both the speed of cutting and the speed at which the billets are fed through the machine, thus destroying the commercial practicability of the operation.

It is true that machines have been designed for the machining or scalping of copper billets, and such machines have been put into operation. However, owing to the softness and toughness of copper, special problems are present'for such unj dertaking, and it is found in practice that the output of such machines may be faulty as to surface to a greatly preponderating extent.

A principal defect of the surface of a scalped" copper billet lies in an irregular machined surface which is termed olf-set, and which manifests itself principally in sharp-shouldered ridges in the machined surface of the billet, the effect of which is to tear the metal during working'and consequent deformation of the copper stock being worked.

The causel of such defectiveness has been the subject of much study, and costly machine building has been resorted to without satisfactory results, up to the development of the machine of the present invention. These studies have shown that the said defectiveness can beiobviated by running the `cutting tools at slow speed, and by slowing the speed of feed of the billet through the machine. Consequently it has been found that the cause ofthis off-set is due to a'considersupport of the billet as it goes through the machine to hold the billet absolutely rigidly dur ing machining, so that the billet wobbles-'to some extent; and secondly a contributing factor in producing the off-set is the.amount of-copper which is present at the machining cutters at one time.

These factors are of no great consequence in machining brass or other comparatively brittle metal, but when the metal is tough and tenacious as is the case with copper, Ithey become of great importance.

The present invention provides, therefore, an improved means of conditioning certain types of work-pieces for the performance of metal-removing operations thereon, wherein these are performed on a metal shape -such as, for example, a substantially round copper billet, whereby there is imparted to the billet a smoothly machined, highly -polished surface with the minimum of tool-cuts, and free from the above described olf-set defects.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved scalping machine for metal billets such as, for example, copper billets, for removing surface metal therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this indicated character wherein the billet is held rigidly steady always, as it passes through the machine, so that there is no tendency of the billet to wobble during machining, thereby minimizing objectionable off-set in the machined surface of the billet, while maintaining the output of the machine well within commercial limits. f

A further object of the invention is to provide improved machining tools which produce a broadnosed nishing cut on the billet surface with the minimum of tool markings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above-indicated character wherein there is maintained a predetermined relationship between the speed of the cutting tools and the'rate of feed of the billet to the cutting ness during the preparation thereof.

ing the above-indicated machining of a metal work-piece,

The invention also comprises the novel char-- acter of certain of the mechanism used in carrying out the foregoing objects.

Further objects. and advantages of the present invention'will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out .in particularity in the appended claims; and the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be the present invention, the metal may be castcontinuously as a rod of indeterminate length yand of requisite diameter for billets when the continuously moving rod from the continuous casting apparatus which is producing the rod, is cut to produce'the billets. While the rod thus prof duced is usually substantially circular in crosssection, the surface of the rod may be somewhat oxidized and a little rough, and the tradeprefers a billet which has a smooth bright surface nished to a substantially .mirror luster.

Accordingly, the general object of the machine illustrated in the present drawings is to i prepare a billet which is favored by the trade for .conversion into seamless tube or pipe by the piercing process. In the case of copper billets l for tube production, such preparation includes the removal of the outer layers of the metal by they use of a broad-nosed finishing cut,which the present machine is designed to produce. The machine is. largely automatic in 'its operation. The billets are supplied manually to a loading rack from which they are fed to the machine one at a time while the machine is in operation. The operator closes an electric circuit, which causes the machine to go through a fixed cycle of operation during which'time each billet is charged to the machine at the loading, fed through the scalping cutters and brought to an unloading station Where the scalped billet is discharged from the machine upon actuation of releasing mechanism.

lng manner:

A power-actuated cam receives a billet fromil the loading rack, and transfers it to a carriage which includes pushing means for pushing the billet-through a cutting head, wherein the milling cutters are rotatably mounted.

As lthe billet rolls by gravity upon this car-v ing'bar which pushesv the billet through the cutiter head. AA short time prior to the billet entering the cutting head, the carriage head engages a retarding switch which decreases the speed ,of feed of the billet to the cutting head.

.As the billet passes through the cutting head,

stops the feed carriage and actuatesadischarge v In general, this is accomplished in the followcarriage which includes a head which comprises a power-actuated clamp, the head being mounted also on' a power-driven screw shaft, along which the clamping head rides. As thedischarge carriage is actuated by the'stopping of the feed carriage, the clamp is put into operation and grips the bar, which then is pulled through the cutting head as the clamp head is retarded on its'screw shaft until at the end of its travel, the clamp head actuates a switch which stops thevcarriage and releases theclamp, which drops the bar onto suitable conveying mechanism for transport to a storage or distribution station. The movement of the clamping jaws closes a switch which reverses the screw shaft which carries the clamp head and causes it to move into billet-receiving position for repetition of the cycle.

As the pushing head of the billet-feeding carriage starts to push the billet towards the cutting head, it throwsa switch which stops the operation of the loading cam, and by the time the billet has been released from the clamp after completion of the scalping operation the pushing headhas returned to its starting position and has operated a switch which stops it and causes rotation of the loading cam to load a billet on the machine, when the cycle of operations is repeated. v

The present machine embodies also structural `details of the cutting head, the design being such as to eliminate possibility of the billet becoming bent during the scalping operations thereon; and it embodies also means for enabling the machining of billets overa range of diameters.

Further objects and advantages of the present improved construction will become apparent as the description proceeds and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims; and the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

The invention will be understood more clearly from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in commotion with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. i

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on'the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 4 4 of Fig; 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

VFig. 5 is a sectional elevation 'taken' on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the thefeed carriage head engages a switch which arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the improved cutter head of the improved machine, the View being taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows. v Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 isa sectional elevation on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the roller guide head of the machine, theview being taken on the plane of the line lil-I0 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken on the line Il ll of Fig. 10. v

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation showing one end of tle clamp head, taken on the line |3|3 of Fig.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the clamp head, taken on the plane of the line |4-i4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevationtaken on the line ||5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IG-IB of Fig.r13, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line I'I-Il of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation talren on the line IB--IS of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional elevation takenon the line 20--20 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.`

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 22.

In the drawings, the electrical connections have been omitted for clarity.

On the `illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in. the drawings, reference num-ber 40 indicates an elongated bed. Towards the right hand endl of the machine as viewed'in Figs.

' l and 2, is a loadingstation, at the oppositeend 32 which receives-billets 34 to be scalped, this rack 32 being suitably supported on brackets 36, 36 which are in turn secured to brackets 38, 38 mounted onvthe frame 40 on one side of the machine.

The billets 34 are placed lengthways on the rack 32, so that they may be picked up from the rack by loading cams 42, 42, which are mounted on a shaft 44, so that corresponding billet-receiving pockets 46 on the cams are in register. These pockets are positioned 120 apart. Therefore as corresponding pockets 46 come into register with a billet, it rolls by gravity into these pockets,4 and as the cams rotateon the shaft 44, the billet is deposited in position on rack 4| to be conveyed through the milling cutters. These cams 42 are actuated yby a motor 48, which, through a suitable coupling 50, drives a gear 52 on a vertical shaft 54, a pinion 56 on the motor -shaftengagingthis gear 52. The upper end of shaft 54 is provided with a beveled pinion 58 ,which meshes with a gear 50 on the end of the.

shaft 44.

As the billets are picked up one at a time by 'the loading cams 42, 42, each one is laid inrpostion on the machine to be conveyed through the cutters. The carriage instrumentalities for this purpose include a pusher carriage 62 which is mounted on a screw shaft 64 and carries a pusher rod B6, the carriage 62 traveling along the screw shaft 64 responsive to the latter being rotated by a motor Gli which acts through a suitableospeed reducer 10 to drive a gear 12 on shaft 64 to rotate the shaft 64, as will be clear from the drawings.

It will be understood that at the start of the operation, the pusher carriage 62 is at the extreme right hand end oi.' the machine, as is shown in Figs. l and 2. As the billet being machined rolls onto the loading cams 44, it passes over a switch 225 to close this switch, and consequently to close a circuit which includes the motor 63 to operate this motor for turning this shaft 64 in clockwise direction. As the shaft 64 rotates, the pusher carriage 52 is moved along it towards the cutters which aremcunted in a rotary cutting head 15, which is rotated by motor 18 through V-belt drives 80. The construction of this cutting head will be described hereinafter.

As the pusher carriage 62 moves forward, the loading mechanism havingstopped, the pusher carriage brings the pusher bar SGinto engagement with the billet, indicated at 35 on Fig. 5, which billet is then pushed by the bar 65 `first through a guide head t2 (to be referred to hereinafter) and then through the cutter head 16.

By the time the front end of the billet 35 has been pushed through the cutters and emerges from the cutting heady it, the pusher carriage 62 has reached its forward limit of travel and has closeda circuit which includes a motor 84 which actuates a. clamp to to grip the end of the billet protruding from the cutter head l0..

The clamp tti is mounted in a clamping carriage 88 which rides on a screw shaft Si) which is driven by a motor 92 through a speed reducer 94 and gear @it on shaft 30 to rotate this shaft in clocltwise direction, thereby causing the clamp carriage 00 to travel away from the cutting head 16, thereby pulling the billet completely through guide head 82 and cutting head l5. As the clamp carriage B3 reaches the end of its travel, the clamp 86 opens to release the billet which drops onto a suitable conveyor, not shown, for conveying to a storage or shipping station.

It will be obvious that the carriages E2 and 83 are guided in their travel by suitable guide tracks 38, and |00, |00 respectively.

The full automatic operation of the machine will be described in fuller detail hereinafter.

Reference has been made above to the cutting head employed on this machine. The details of the construction of the cutting head are shown in Figs. 6 to9 inclusive. It will be seen that this cutting head comprises the sheave 11, which is drivenfrom the motor 'I8 by suitable driving means such as V-belts 80. A housing |02 encloses the sheave and associated parts, this housing of course having a lateral opening for the driving belts.

The sheave operates on suitable bearings, designated at |04 and |06, lubrication being provided through the annular cavity I 08 supplied with a pressure lubricating intake H0, the lubricant being fed through annular passages H2, H4, IIB to the bearings and between movingand fixed parts.

Secured to the sheave 11 by screws I I8 is a cap |20, which is the cutting head proper, in which are contained the milling cutters |22, which are arranged to mill off the surface of the billet 35 i range of diameters, and accordingly the cutters |22 are adapted to be adjusted relative to the billet 35.. Consequently, adjusting means for the cutters must be provided, there being adjusting screws |24 provided for this purpose in cooperation with clamping screws |26, |26, which are adapted to clamp the cutters |22 in adjusted position. s This construction is repeated for each cutter |22, three of which are shown. equi-spaced around the billet 35.

Sealing means are provided also for the interior of the cutting head, such means being indicated by a ilanged sealing plate |28 which is held in place by a retaining casting |30, which in turn is held in position by means of screws |02, the cutting head contacting with a casting |30,

which is held in place by screws |34. Air vent |06 serves to ventilata the cutters |22 and prevents the same from overheating during machining oi the billet, and also as exit means for iine metal chips, the cut on which is represented at |38.

Guide means |40 are provided for maintaining the billet in alignment while it passes through the cutting head. Such means include levers |42 equi-spaced around the billet, the levers |02 being adjustable as to their position by being pivotally mounted on a pivot pin |434 and each of the levers carries a roller |46 which rides on the billet as the billet passes through the cutting head. These 'rollers' are positioned in a bifurcated end of the levers |42 and rotate upon shaft |46 which is integral with the rollers and which is held between the bifurcated end of the levers |42 and a demountablecap |60, which is secured by cap screws |62. f

The levers |42 are held in position by cooperating annular clamping nuts |55, |66 which arethreaded together for independent adjustment, the outer nut |66 being also threaded into the housing |02. A cam-shaped annular recess |60 is provided between the inner ends of the nuts, into which fits the end |60 of the lever |42, which end is tapered to be received in this recess and clamped therein between the nuts |55 and |56, thereby holding the lever in desired position of adjustment dependent upon the diameter of the billet being machined.

When it is desired to shift the adjustment of the lever |42, for example to lift the roller |46 in order to receive billets of larger diameter than that shown in Fig. 7, the clamping nuts are unscrewed sufficiently far to enable the end to slide down the slope of the curve of the recess |58 towards the foot of the curve; and when proper adjustment of the lever |42 is effected, the nut |56 is tightened up on the handlev |60, thus clamping the lever in its newly-adjusted position. Ad-

justment and locking multaneously. y

The pins |44 upon which pivot vthe levers |42 are mounted in the housing '|6'which is recessed of the levers are eilected sias is shown in Fig'. 9 in orderto receive these. guide levers, the rollers |46 of which are turnable' under the movement of the billet through the cutting head. The fact that these levers |42 are clamped rigidly in adjusted position affords rigid as to the amount of adjustment that may be effected.' I

-It hasbeen said above that prior to the billet entering the-cutting head, it passes through a aseaooa roller guide 02, which comprises guide rollers |54 at each end of the guide head, three of which rollers are shown, each of which is mounted in similar brackets, such as that designated at |60.

These rollers guide the billet through the guide head 82, inwhich there is a chuck comprising beveled chuck gears |60, which are joined to adjustable brackets |62 through the spiral connecg tion |66, the chuck gears |60 being similarly connected to the chuck housing |63 by spiral connection |66.

Actuation of these chuck gears is accomplished by the provision of beveled pinions |60, H0, |112, three of which are shown, these meshing with the chuck gears.

The pinions |10, |72 are turnable manually by a proper wrench inserted in sockets ili in hubs |`|6 of the pinions. Movement of any one of these pinions operates all, so that the roller Wheels |68 are moved towards or away from the billet t5 being machined, the adjustment depending upon the diameter of the billet being machined, thereby allowing a range of diameters of billets, say, .for example, from 21/2 inches to 31/2 inches in diameters. When adjustment has been made ior the accommodation of given billets ofthe same diameter, the mechanism being self locking, the

adjustment holds until it is shifted for the reof the levers its in the casting te, hold the billet t6 against turning during the machining thereof, the wheels |54 exerting a clamping action on the billet in view of the adjustment of the chuck gears |60.

It has been mentioned above that the billet is gripped by 4a clamping device as the pushing mechanism pushes the billet through the cutting.

head, rthe clamping device pulling the billet all the'way through Ythe cutting head and taking it to the discharging station as the pushing instrumentalities return to starting position for the next billet. Y

Details of this clamping mechanism are shown in Figs-13 to 17 inclusive. It has been mentioned previously that the clamping carriage 88 rides on screw shaft 90, reciprocating between the casting 'i6 and the discharge station which is located at the left-hand end of the shaft 90.

The clamp itself comprises clamping jaws |10, |80, which are adapted to grip the billet 35. The

` jaws |78, are shown as being made up of brass parts |82, |84 bolted to steel or cast iron backings |06, 88, by countersunk bolts, not shown. The jaws |10, |80, move in and out on a guide responsively tothe direction of rotation of a shaft y|02 which .has right hand threads |94 extending through clamp jaw |80 and left hand threads |96 extending through clamp jaw |88, the jaws being of course correspondingly'internally threaded.

Theshaft |92 has a worm wheel `|90 secured to it, the wheel and shaft being rotated yby a worm 200 on shaft 202, which in turn is driven from a motor 04 through belts 206, passing around sheaves 208 and 2|`0 on thev motor .84 and shaft I 202, respectivelyi Shaft202 is a. splined shaft as is indicated at 2| 2 on Fim 17' to allow for some longitudinal movement of the shaft, a spring 2|4 positioned between abutment 2 6 on the shaft and matically. The billets to be scalped are loaded onto rack 32 where they travel into the feeding cams 42, 42, which pick up each successive billet in predetermined timed intervals. As each billet rolls into the feeding cams 42, 42, the linger 224 of limit switch 226 is depressed. This limit switch 226 is interconnected electrically with the push motor 68 so that when the push motor 68 has the pusher bar 66 in returned position, the motor 48 is started, which rotates the feeding cams 42, 42 through gears 56, 52, shaft 54, gears 58, 59 and shaft 44 which carries the cams 42, 42.

' The cams 42, 42 rotate the billet through an arc of 120, the billet then rolling from the cam onto the rack 4| for feeding to the cutters. After the cams 42, 42 rotate through 120, a contact cam 228 mounted on the cam shaft 44 engages a limit switch 238, which stops the motor 48. The limit switch 230 is of the conventional type construction wherein circuit opening and closing contact members are operated by cam means.

As a billet 35 comes to rest on rack 4I, it depresses finger 232 of limitswitch 234, which is interconnected electrically with motor 68, so that the motor 681s started, thus rotating screw shaft `64 by means of the gear train 16, 12 therebi7 driving the pusher carriage 62 and pusher bar 66 forward against ther end of the billet, indicated at 35, thus pushing the billet towards the guide head 82 until a cam 236 on the pusher carriage 62 trips a limit switch 238, positioned on the frame of the machine, which slows down the motor 68, so that the billet travels through the guide head 82 and cutter head casting 16 at slow speed.v The pusher carriage 62 moves to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, pushing the billet through the roller guide head 82 and cutter head casting 16, where the cutters |22 machine off the surface of the billet as it passes through the cutter head.

The pusher carriage 62 continues to move to the left until the forward part of cam 240 on the carriage 62 contacts limit switch 242 on the frame of the machine at substantially the left hand end of the travel of the carriage 62 as viewed in Figs. l and 2.

This contact with switch 242 starts the clamp motor 84 and pull motor 92.

The clamp motor 84 is connected through belts 286 (Fig. 13) and worm gear connections 200, |88, for operating the shaft |92, so that the clamp jaws |18, |80 come together and clamp the billet. When the jaws are tight, limit switch 244 is contacted through ann 246 to stop the motor 84 and lock the jaws |18,.|80 in closed position.

Now the pull motor 92 is connected through gearing 94, 96 to the screw shaft 9|), thus rotating this shaft so as to move the carriage 88v on which the clamp is mounted. This carriage 88 is adjacent to the casting 16 as the billet is pushed through the latter, and the clamp jaws grip the f 2, thus pulling the billet through the cutter head. 'Ihe pusher carriage 62 meanwhile continues to move towards the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, until the back portion of cam 240 contacts a limit switch 248, which stops the motor 68.

Now, the billet being clamped, the carriage 88 moves to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, at

slow speed until cam 259 on the carriage 88 contacts a limit switch 252, which increases the speed of the motor 92 to give a rapid traverse. This limit switch 252 is situated so that the cam 250 does not engage it until the billet has been drawn by the carriage 88 completely through the cutting head.

The carriage 88 continues to the left until cam 250 on the carriage 88 engages a limit switch 256 positioned close to the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. This stops motor 92 and starts motor 84 so that the clamps releasel the billet and it drops out of the machine onto a conveyor (not shown).V As soon as the upper clamp jaw |18 opens, it contacts a limit switch 258 through actuation of aswitch arm 260 (see Fig. 13), which action reverses the pull motor 92, thereby rotating shaft 98 in reverse direction, thereby causing the carriage 86 to return to clamping position at the cutting head. As soon as the cam 250 contacts limit switch 262 which is positioned on the machine frame at right-hand end of travel ofthe carriage 88, the motor 92 stops and the carriage 88 is in position to receive the next billet.

It will be clear that when the jaws |18, in therprevious cycle are tight on the bar, limit switch 244 is contacted. This stops motor 84 and starts the motor 68 in reverse, thus returning pusher carriage 62 to its starting position. As soon as cam 268 on the pusher carriage 62 contacts limit switch 2li), positioned near the right hand end of the machine frame, the motor 48 of the billet-charging mechanism is started and another billet is fed into the machine.

The timing and placement of cams and limit switches is arranged to give a Smooth and unin terrupted sequence. That is, more than one action is taking place at onetime but in good sequence, so that the shortest possible cycle may be maintained.

All of the cams on the carriages 62 and 88 are movable -to allow for handling of billets `of different lengths.

It may be mentioned in this connection that one of the difficulties which has been encountered is the production of what mas7 be called off-set in the billet, 'that is to say the production of a faultily machined surface due to Lmisalignment of billet-handling instrumentalities through which the billet passes cn itsv way to the unloading station.

This off-set is due to the billet entering the cutter-head vat a slight angle to the horizontal, instead of on a perfectly straight or level position. It will be noted that the billets are rather long, and as each one travels through the holding and guiding devices, it may or may not go through the cutters at a slight angle to the horizontal. Now as the billet continues through the cutters it is gripped by the rollers |46 and'deiiected to meet the center line of the said rollers. This leaves a distinct mark on `the billet, and

the billet may become bent or bowed.

It is very difficult in practice to obtain this exact centering of the parts; but the formation of this objectionable off-set is due at least partially to insuicient support ofthe billet as it passes through the gripping means. Consequently not only are the gripping rollers H54 arranged so as to provide substantial support for the billet all around it, but they are moved close to the cutting head as are also therollers/ |46, so that at no time will the billet be subjected to distortional deformation stresses over anyconsiderable length of the billets. By minimizing the distance between rollers |54. cutters H22 and rollers |46, any substantial leverage on the billet is avoided. Also the cutters |22, being broad and rotating at rather slow speed, afford additional support to the billet as it passes from the gripping rollers |54 to thegripping rollers M6, thereby minimizing any tendency to distort the billet.

The rollers |54 of the guide and holding mechanism are adjusted by manual operation of the pinlons |10 or |'|2, which are -accessible readily from the outside of the chuck housing 82. These holding rollers |54, together with the rollers lilii and the support aiforded by the cutters mi provide a substantially continuous support for' the Ajaws |18 an-d |80, these jaws being sumciently Wide to hold the billet rigidly and perfectlystraight as it passes from the machining mechanism, the rollers |46 holding the billet against turning or becoming'off-center until it is withdrawn entirely clear of the cutters |22 and sheave l1. The clamping carriage 3d also is closely adjacent to the sheave Ti, as the end of the billet comes through the sheave to be engaged by the clamp. It will be understood of course that the billet ls supported also on the rack along which it travels until it is pulled off therefrom by the return of the clamp carriage to the-unloading station. The closely adjacent supporting and holding instrumentalities providedin this machine obviate any long unsupported lengths of the billet and hold it steadily without wobbling at any time during its machining.

It has been mentioned previously herein that the amount of metal at the cutters at one time has a bearing on the production of the objectionable off-set, and it has been found that a predetermined relation should be maintained between the speed of the cutters and the speedA of longitudinal movement of thebillet. v".ihus, in practice it is found that for copper billets 4 it. long and 3 inches in diameter, the cutters should revolve at about 600 R. P. M. where the forward movement .of the billet past the cutters is 120 inches/minute. A

What is claimed is: l

l. A machine for scalping metal billets comprising an elongated bed, a metal scalping tool means positioned intermediate the ends of said bed, a billet clamping and guiding means disposed adjacent said scalping tool, said billet clamping and guiding means Vcomprising rigidly supported roller clamping means with said rollers being ,arranged in the same plane for unyieldingly holding and guiding the billet so that the f, being scalped by said tool, saidlast mentionedv longitudinal axis of the billet throughout its eny tire length is maintained in accurate alignment with the longitudinal axisV of said scalping tool during the scalping operation, reciprocable carriage means arranged von one side of said scalpditional reciprocable carriage means located on opposite'side of said scalping tool for receiving and guiding said billet away from said tool, said last mentioned carriage having a clamping means mounted thereon for gripping the advancing end portion of said billet as it emerges from said n scalping tool whereby upon movement of the carriage away from said tool said billet is pulled forward while the remainder of the billet is'being scalped. l

2. A. machine for scalping metal billets comprising an elongated machine bed, a metal scalping tool positioned intermediate the ends of said machine bed, a billet guide head member flxedly mounted adjacent said scalping tool for firmly holding and uniformly guiding the billet in position to be accurately machined, said billet guide head member comprising an adjustable chuck which includes a set of cooperating rollers arranged in the same plane, a set of rollers being disposed at opposite ends of said head member for exerting an unyielding clamping action on said billet as it is moved therealong, said guide head member holding said billet rigidly so that thebillet is free to move lengthwise only,7 reciprocable carriage means arranged on one side of said scalping tool for receiving and feeding said billet endwise through Isaid billet guide head member and in position to be machined by said tool, additional reciprocable carriage means disposed adjacent the opposite side oi said scalping tool to receive and advance the scalped portion of said billet therealong while the remainder of said billet is being scalped by said tool, said last mentioned carriage having clamping means carried thereby for gripping the leading end portion of said billet which has passed said scalping tool for rigidly holding the billet as it is conveyed lengthwise therealong.

3. A machine for scalping metal billets comprising an elongated machine bed, a metal scalping tool positioned intermediate the ends oi said machine bed, a billet guide head member nxedly mounted adjacent said scalping tool for y holding and uniformly guiding the billet in posithrough said billet guide head member and Ain v position to be machinedby said tool. additional reciprocable carriage meansl disposed adjacent the opposite side of said scalping tool to receive and advance the scalped portion of`said billet therealong while the-remainder of said billet is carriage having clamping means carried thereby for gripping the leading end portion of said bi1- let which has passed said scalping tool for rigidly holding thel billet as it is conveyed lengthwise therealong, said chuck comprising spiral meshing gears and being manually adjustable for allowing the machine to accommodate billets having a diameter rangepf between 21/2 to 3% inches. e i v 4. A machine for scalping metal billets comprising a metal removing tool means positioned intermediate the ends of said machine, means comprisingh an adjustable chuck having anguassauts larly spaced rollers member disposed in a common plane for rigidly clamping and guiding a billet axially therealong without flexing and position to be scalped by said tool, reciprccable carriage means positioned at one end of said-machine for receiving and -pushing a billet lengthwise through said billet clamping and guiding means and in position to be scalped by said tool,` a second reciprocable carriage means disposed at the lopposite end of said machine for receivu ing the scalped billet, said last mentioned carriage means comprising an adjustable clamping device for gripping the advancing scalped end 4axis of said rotary cutting tool means while. it

passes therethrough and is scalped, said roller guide means being mounted on pivoted lever means providing adjustment means whereby billets of diilerent size diameter can be machined without requiring the dismantling or substitution of parts in said machine.

5. A machine for scalping metal billets comprising avmetal scalping tool means positioned 4wise intosaid scalping tool, said last mentioned means comprising a universal chuck having cooperating spaced roller members disposed in a common plane for engaging the billet and maintaining the longitudinal axis of said billet in accurate alignment with the axis of said scalping tool means as the billet is passed therealong from one end of the machine through said scalping means, reciprocable carriage means located adjacent the opposite' end of said machine for receiving the scaped billet and conveying it therealong, said last mentioned reciprocable carriage means having a billet clamping member mounted thereon for gripping the end portion of said billet as it advances from'said tool to continue said movement while the remainder of the billet is being scalped whereby a completely scalped bi1- let .is provided, said billetguiding mechanism, scalping tool, and clamping means being adjustable for accommodating billetsof different size diameter. y

. CARL GALL.

BAR'I'EL J. DI SANTO. 

